Service-meter for telephone-lines.



` No. 755,054.- PATENTED MAR.22,1904.'

- c. E. SCRIBNER & P. R.' MOBERTY.

SERVICE METERIOR TELEPHONE LINES.

APPLIGATIONPILBD APB. 2. 1900. no MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented 'March 22, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. SCRIBNER, OF CHICAGO, AND FRANK R. MCBERTY, OF EVANS- TON,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SERVICE-METER FOR TELEPHONE-LINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,054, dated' March22, 1904.

Application med April 2, 1900.

To all vwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. SCRIBNER, residing at Chicago, and FRANKR. MCBERTY, residing at Evanston, inthe county of Cook and State ofIllinois, citizens of the United States, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Service-Meters for Telephone-Lines, of which thefollowing'is a full, clear, concise, and eXact description.

This invention is a service-meter or tollcollecting appliance forregistering or making a charge for each use ofthe telephone `inoriginating a connection.

In general the objects of our herein-described improvements are tocompel the user of the telephone to operate the register or do any otherrequired act for making a charge for the use of the line in order toplace the telephones or accessory appliances in operative condition andto make the necessity for such special acts dependent upon the action ofthe attendant at the central office in making connection Jromthe line toanother or to the line from another, so that the subscriber may berelieved of the special act and no charge may bemade when the line inquestion is used in response to calls from other stations.

Our invention comprises in general a register or similar applianceadapted for manual operation by the user of the telephone, mechanism ieither electrical or mechanical for determining the operative conditionof the telephone at the station, an electrically-controlled devicecontrolling the action of this mechanism to make the telephone operativeindependently of the mechanism or through its agency independently oi'the manually-operated register, and different means at the centraloffice applied, respectively, in making connections to a line inresponse to an originated call or to the line in response to a callfroma dierentline, such means being in the one case adapted to preventand in the other to permit the use of the telephone.

In a specific form which.we find especiallyA suitable for use we providea service-meter and a push for manually operating it at thesubscribersstation and a polarized electrorent from a central source.

Serial No. 11,100. (No model.)

vmagnet connectedwith the line controlling a short circuit about thesubstation-transmitter, an answering-plug at the central ofIice formaking connection with the line in response to the call, and acalling-plug for making connection in response to an order fromadifferent line and means for applying different polarities of currentto the answering and calling plugs, the current through theansweringplug being arranged to operate the polarized relay to close theshunt or short circuit and y the current through the calling-plug beingarranged to throw the polarized relay into its alternate position toopen the shunt, and

mechanism operated in actuating the register tolrender the shuntcontrolled by the relay inoperative or otherwise to suspend the controlof the polarized magnet over the telephones at the substation.

The above-described form of our invention is illustrateddiagrammatically in the attached drawing. This diagram representscircuits of a telephone-line between a telephone-substation and acentral oice, switching apparatus of the usual sort at the centralstation, and the essentialelements of our improved service-meter -atthesubstation.

The telephone lines and centralofce switching-apparatus are adapted forthe Wellknowncentral-energy system, in which the signals .areautomatically operated and the substation.-transmitters are excited bycur- The apparatus at the substation consists of Aa polarized callbella, condenser a', receiving and transmitting telephones a2 and a3,respectively, and a telephone-switch a4. The line-circuit is permanentlycompleted throughthe bell and condenser. v The telephone-switch isarranged to close a low-resistance path in shunt of these appliancesthrough the telephones when the receiving-telephone is taken from theswitch. The line conductors l and 2 from the substation are led in thecentral oiice to thgqpoles of a central source b of energy, the '56krolling-magnet of a visible signal c being inter- `posed in the lineconductor 2. The direct connection of the line conductor with thiscenvai tral source is controlled by the switch-contacts of a cut-oil'relay (Z. The line is connected with a spring-jack e in the switchboard.The ring of the spring-jack forms also the terminal of a local conductor3, which includes the magnet of the cut-off relay.

Plugs f and f are furnished in the switchboard for uniting lines. Acomplete circuit for telephone-currents between these plugs is formed byconductors 4 5 and 6 7, which lead in pairs to the poles of the sourceof current through the windings of a repeatingcoil g. The conductors 6and 7 traverse magnet-windings of supervisory relays and L, whichcontrol, respectively, secondary supervisory signals 2f and c". Specialcontact-pieces of the plugs f and f, which register with thecontact-rings of the spring-jacks, form the terminals of conductors 8and 9, respectively, leading from the source of current Z. Theseconductors include the secondary supervisory signals Z and z", the meansby which the relays ZL and /L' control the signals consisting in shuntsof the signal lamps traversing the switch-contacts of the relays.

The circuit herein shown for the pairs of connecting-plugs is in generalthat which is usual in the so-called relay-switchboard, 7 but isespecially adapted to the control of servicemeters in accordance withour invention by reversing the normal connection of the source Z ofcurrent with `the answering-plug, so that the answering-plug applies tothe line a current of different polarity from that produced in the lineby the insertion of the calling-plug in a spring-jack.

7e come now to the description of our improved service-meter. Thepolarized electromagnet 7c has its magnet-windings connected in thebranch ot' the line leading through the telephones. This magnet has anarmature t, carrying a latch or catch 17112. The armature carries alsothe movable contact of the pair of contact-pieces Z13 which control ashort circuit l() about the transmitting-telephone a3. The winding ofthe magnet is preferably shunted by a comparatively high non-inductiveresistance to diminish its impedance to telephone-currents.

A manual push Z is placed near the telephones controlling a lever Z',which through the agency of an escapcment or verge is arranged tocommunicate motion to a train of counting-wheels Z2, the countingmechanism being preferably advanced through one tooth of the escapementin each complete oscillation of the push Z. This push acts also toimpart motion to apivoted lever m, which is adapted when thrust forwardto enter beneath the catch h5 and while in place beneath it to raise thecatch suiiiciently to break connection between contact-anvil and point703, carried by the armature 7c In the path of movement of the push Z isplaced a contact-spring Z3, arranged to bear upon a contact-pointcarried by the lever Z). The contact-point and the contact-spring Z3form the ends of a normally open short circuit 11 of the apparatus atthe substation.

In the use of this apparatus in initiating a connection with anotherline the taking of the receiving-telephone from its support for usepermits the telephone-switch to close the circuit of the line, and thusfurnishes a. path for current in the line from the central source Z)which excites the line-signal c and calls the attention ofthe operator.On seeing the callsignal thus displayed the operator inserts theanswering-plugf of a pair of plugs into the answering-jack c of thecalling-line. This act of the operator closes the local circuit 3 8 andcauses the cut-olf relay to sever the .normal connections of the linewith the battery Z). At the same time the battery becomes connected withthe line conductors l 2 through a different path-namely, conductors 4:and 6 of the plug-circuit-and in the reverse direction to its formermode of connection with the line. The current in the path thus formedcirculates in the proper direction to maintain the armature r' of theservice-meter in the position illustrated in the drawing, thus keepingthe short-circuit 10 about the transmitter closed at contact c. When theoperator is ready to receive the call, sheaddresses the usual inquiry,What number? to the user of the telephone and instructs him to press theregistering-push before replying. The subscriber is able to hear theinquiry and the instruction, since his receiving-telephone is notincluded within the shunt controlled by the relay Zr; but in order touse his transmitting-telephone he is compelled to press the push Z. Themovement of this push operates the register or otherwise effects therequired collection or charge for the use of the telephone. It alsopresses the lever m beneath the catch k2 and breaks the shunt about thetransmitting-telephone, leaving the apparatus at the substation inperfectly operative condition. The operator having received the ordermay make connection with the line required in the usual way, and duringconversation in the united lines may supervise the connection by meansof signals c' and z". 1f the user ot' the telephone wishes to again callthe attention of the operator, he may oscillate the switch-hook of histelephone to operate the supervisory signal c' in the switchboard. /Vhen, on the other hand, the line provided with the service-meter iscalled for from another station. connection is made with this line bymeans of the calling-plugf' and the springjack e of the line Wanted.Then the source Z is connected with the line l 2 in the reversedirection to that of which the effect hasv just been described, thepolarized relay 7c is caused to separate the switch-contacts rzk, andthus to break the shunt about the transmittingtelephone, leaving thetelephones in operative IOO IIO

condition without requiring any special act on the part of the user ofthe telephone.

The connections of the answering and calling plugs with. the batterybeing reversed, a subscriber is not compelled to actuate his registerwhen he is called up by some other subscriber, but only when heinitiates a call. The connections of the calling-plug with any lineconnects the battery Z) with that line in a manner such that currentiiows in a direction to actuate the polarized magnet lo and maintain theshort-circuiting contacts k3 cttseparated, but when an answering-plug isconnected with a line the connection of the battery is reversed, themagnet c at the substation does not respond, and the short-circuitingcontacts must be separated by the subscriber by the operation of hisservice-meter.

The purpose of the shunt ll, controlled by`r contacts Z3 and lever Z,isto prevent the user when making a second call from pressing in andholding the button Z to avoid the necessityV for registering thesubsequent call. Such an act by maintaining the short circuit of theline would prevent his use of the telephone and would alsointerfere'with the transmission of call-signals to obtain the attentionof the operator. Hence in order to obtain subsequent connections theuser of the telephone must call the operator bymeans of thetelephone-switch. The operator will then withdraw the answering-plug ffrom the springjack of the calling-line, whereby the cut-olf relay willbe permitted to connect the source vof current?) with the line in thenormal direction, which will cause the magnet ato release the lever m,after which the reinsertion of vplug f in the spring-jack of thecalling-line will put the relay in position to close the short Vcircuitof the transmitting-telephone and will compel the registration of thenew call, as already traced.

We are aware that our invention may be carried out in a number ofdifferent ways. The mode of control exercised by the central oiiice overthe device for compelling the operation of the service-meter may bevaried to a considerable extent, and also the said device itself iscapable of considerable modification.

Our invention is defined in the following claims: Y

1. The combination with a telephone-line and the telephone apparatusthereof at the substation and means for making connection with the lineat the central oiiice, of a polarized electromagnet at the substationand mechanism controlled thereby for rendering the telephoneapparatusinoperative, and means for applying to the lineat the central oflicecurrent of either polarity for operating said magnet, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with atelephone-line, of the telephone apparatusthereof and a polarized magnet controlling the operation of said.telephone apparatus, an answering-plug and a calling-plug for makingconnection with the line in the central oiiice, and sources of currentof different polarity connected with the said plugs; whereby theoperative condition of the telephone apparatus is determined by the plugwith which connection is made to the line, as described.

3. The combination .with a telephone-line and the telephones at thesubstation thereof, a service-meter or toll-charging device at thesubstation and means for manually operating said meter, mechanismadapted to render the telephonic apparatus inoperative, and a magnetcontrolling said mechanism, an answeringplug vfor making connection withthe line at the central oiiicle, and a source of current connectedtherewith adapted to excite the magnet to prevent the use of thetelephone when a call is answered, and a device operated manually in theactuation of the meter for rendering said telephones operative, asdescribed.

4. The combination with a telephone-line and transmitting and receivingtelephones therefor, of a polarized relay and a shunt of thetransmitting-telephone controlled thereby, an answering-and a callingplug for making connection with the line either in response to a call orin compliance with an order from a diiferent line, respectively, asource'of curmeans for calling the central office from the stationthereof, and telephone apparatus at the station, of a device at thesubstation adapted to render an essential part of said telephoneapparatus inoperative, and a magnet controlling said device, ananswering and a calling plug for making connection with the line at thecentral oiiice, a source of current applied through the answering-plugadapted to operate said magnet, an independent manually-operated deviceat the substation adapted torender the telephone apparatus operative,and a service-meter or toll-collecting appliance operated by saiddevice, substantially as described.

6. 'The combination with a telephone-line and a receiving and atransmitting telephone thereof at the substation, and means for callingthe oiiice from the substation. of an electromagnet controlling thecurrent through the transmitting-telephone, an independentmanually-operated device also controlling the current through thetransmitting-telephone, and a service-meter actuated by said device inits movement, an answering and a calling plug at the central oiiice formaking connection to the line, and a source of current automaticallyapplied through said answering-plug in making connection with the linefor actuating said IOO ISO

magnet to break the current through the transmitting-telephone, asdescribed.

7 The combination with the telephones and the line-circuit thereof, of amagnet controlling the operative condition of the telephones, and meansfor applying current to the line at the central oHice to excite saidmagnet, a manually-operated push and a service-meter actuated thereby,mechanism adapted to break the control of said magnet over thetelephone, said mechanism being actuated by the push, and means forretaining said mechanism :in position for its actuation by the pushduring the 'excitement of the magnet, as described.

8. The combination with the telephones and the telephone-line,of thepolarized magnet and the switch contacts controlling the current throughthe transmitting-telephone, a catch carried by the armature of themagnet,a manually-operated push and a service-meter actuated thereby,and a lever also operated by said push adapted to be brought intoengagement with said catch, and means controlled by said lever fordestroying the control of the polarized magnet over the current throughthe telephone, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a service-meter for telephone-lines the followingelements: telephone apparatus, a magnet controlling the circuit of thetelephones, and means at the central office for exciting the magnet torender the telephone apparatus inoperative; a service-meter at thesubstation, a push for manually operating it, and switch-contacts of thepush controlling the circuit of the line to render the line inoperativein all positions of the push save its normal, and a device independentof the magnet operated by said push controlling the condition of thetelephone apparatus to make them operative said magnet being adapted toretain said device in position when it has been actuated; whereby theuser ofthe telephone is compelled to register an answered call, and isprevented from making subsequent calls without registering, asdescribed.

l0. rIhe combination with a telephone-line extending from a substationto a central office, of a magnet connected with the line at thesubstation, and mechanism controlled by said magnet for renderinginoperative the telephone apparatus at the substation, whereby the useof such telephone apparatus may be prevented, a source of current at thecentral office adapted to energize said magnet, to actuate saidmechanism, means for connecting said source of current with the line, atoll device at the substation, and a releasing appli. ance actuated inthe operation of said tollcounter, for restoring the operative conditionof the substation-telephone apparatus, substantially' as set forth.

l1. In a connection-registering appliance, the combination with a relaydevice adapted to be connected to line, the armature of which isdesigned to be operatively actuated by current of predeterminedcharacter, of a controlling circuit extending to the instrument served,adapted to be opened and closed by said relay, whereby said instrumentmay be rendered temporarily inoperative, a meter device andmanually-controlled means for actuating the same and for restoring thecontrolled instrument to service, substantially as set forth.

l2. In a connection-registering device of the class described, thecombination with a polarized relay adapted to be connected to line, of acircuit-controlling armature thereforv adapted to be actuated by currentof given polarity, means controlled by said armature for temporarilyrendering inoperative the associated or controlled instrument, a meterdevice and means for actuating said armature and meter device, where theinstrument may be restored to service and a connection is registered,substantially as set forth.

13. In a connection-register for telephonelines, the combination with apolarized electromagnet adapted to be connected in circuit with thetelephone instrument, of an armature designed to respond operatively tocurrent of a given polarity, a controlling-circuit governed therebyadapted to render the telephone instrument temporarily inoperative, acounting-train and means for jointly actuating the same and forrestoring the instrument to service, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 9th day ofFebruary, A.D. 1900.

CHARLES E. SCRIBNER. FRANK R. MCBERTY. Witnesses:

ELLA EDLER, DUNCAN E. WILLETT.

